Vibration dampener and stabilizer for sucker rods



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i ras A /M WMM ATTo/EWEY S. M. HOLCOMBE VIBRATIONDAMPENER AND sTABILIzER FOR sUcKER RoDs Filed Jan. 30, 1963 July 27,1965 July 27, 1955 s. M. HoLcoMBE 3,197,263

-VIBRATION DAMPENER AND STABILIZER FOR SUCKER RODS Filed Jan. so, 1963 2sheets-sheet 2 any. 3.

1N ENTOR. .SQ/m/e/ M o/aome A TTOR/YE Y United States Patent O Fice3,197,263 VIBRATIQN DAIVIPENER AND STABILIZER FR SUCKER RODS Samuel M.Holcombe, La Mesa, Calif.; Dorothy Holcombe Benton, executrix of saidSamuel Max- Well Holcombe, deceased 'Filed dan. 30, 1963, Ser. No.254,915 3 Claims. (Cl. 308-4) This invention relates to a sucker rodvibration dampener and rod stabilizer for application to sucker rodsoperating within a well tubing.

In the mechanical pumping of wells, a tubing is run into the bore holeof the well to carry the pump on the lower end and provide for ow of uidfrom the pump to the top of the well. Connected with the reciprocatingelement of the pump is a string of sucker rods that extendslongitudinally within the tubing to connect with the pumping jack orother power capable of producing reciprocation of the rods and elevationof the well lluid through the tubing. In deep wells, such as oil wells,there is a tremendous load on the rods, resulting from weight of therods, weight of the column of uid in the tubing, friction, and the like,which produces stretch of the rods. The stretch of the rods increases onthe upstroke and decreases on the downstroke, consequently, the rods arein constant vibration, which produces crystallization and results inultimate breakage of the rods.

All wells are crooked, because it is impossible to drill a straight borehole, therefore there is a rubbing and slapping of the rods on parts ofthe tubing. This not only increases stress on the rods, but produceswear thereon and rubbing through or splitting of the tubing. In deepwells, rod and tubing failures are frequent.

Breakage of the rods, of course, necessitates shutting down of theproduction and diicult shing jobs and replacement of the rods andtubing.

Various attempts have been made to provide rod guides, vibrationdampeners, and the like, but most of them are unsatisfactory becausethey interfere with `running the rods into and out of the well,interfere with flow of well uid, and it has been diicnlt to make themrugged enough to withstand tremendous loads. In fact, tension of therods literally crushed them against the tubing and caused the fasteningdevices and parts thereof to break loose and drop into the tubing so asto become wedged and dilflcult to remove.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a sucker rod vibration dampener and rod stabilizer whicheliminates the above described difliculties and greatly prolongs thelife expectancy of the rods.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a relatively light weightsucker rod vibration dampener and stabilizer which is ruggedlyconstructed land capable of withstanding the working stresses to whichthey are subjected; to provide for mounting the dampener and stabilizeron the rods in such a manner that the fastening devices are out ofcontact with the tubing; to provide a vibration dampener and stabilizerwith shoes covered with a composition material, to avoid metal-to-metalcontact and to better dampen the vibration of the rods; to provide forsecurely retaining the composition material on the face of the shoes;and to provide a secure means for retaining the shoes on the clampingparts with which the dampener and stabilizer is secured to the suckerrod.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a vibration dampener andstabilizer which permits increasing the speed of the pump with lesspower cost; and to provide straightening of the rod action with respectto the tubing in crooked wells.

3,197,23 Patented `luly 217, 1965 In accomplishing these and otherobjects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, thepreferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of well tubing, showing asucker rod therein that is equipped with a vibration dampener andstabilizer embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section through Vthe tlow tubing and through thevibration dampener and stabilizer, to

better illustrate the construction and mounting thereof the stabilizerand dampener in spaced apart relation and taken on the line 6 6 of FIG.3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a portion of well tubing that extends from the top of abore hole to the bottom thereoffor carrying a pump (not shown) on thelower end for elevating well fluids to the top of the well. 2vdesignates a portion of a string of sucker rods extending downwardlythrough the tubing to actuate the reciprocatory element of the pump. Therods 2 are suspended at the upper end from the Walking beam of a pumpingjack (not shown) or the like, by which the rods are reciprocated as inthe usual practice in the pumping of an oil well. As above mentioned,the string of rods reaching from the pumping jack to the well pump indeep wells is under considerable stretch, not only from weight of therods themselves but also the added weight of the column of uid beinglifted in the tubing on each upstroke. Stretching of the rods variesduring reciprocation, increasingon `the upstroke' and lessening on thedownstroke, causing the rodsV to vibrate and pound with such force thatthey are under eX- treme stress and soon crystallize and, sometimes,break after only a short period of operation.

It is impossible to drill a bore hole straight, so that the tubingdeviates from the perpendicular with deviation in the bore hole.Therefore, when the rods are reciprocated they make contact with thetubing at these places, with the result that the sucker rods exerttremendous pres sure and wear upon the tubing, causing the tubing to beworn away and actually split apart under thrust of the rods thereon.

However, with the present invention the vibration on the rods and theexcessive forces on the tubing are stabilized by providing the string.of `rods at places along the length thereof with vibration dampenersand stabilizers 3, as now to be described, only one being illustrated inthe drawings, since the stabilizers and dampeners are all of likeconstruction and may be located along the length of the string of suckerrods Wherever they may be needed.

In accordance with the present invention, each Vibration dampener andstabilizer includes two or more supporting members 4 and 5, each havinga nearly semicylindrical collar portion 6 having an inner radius of suchsize as to firmly seat upon the face of the rod 2. The collar portions 6each have laterally extending flanges 7 and 8 of only sufficient widthto accomodate fastening devices 9 by which the collar portions are drawntightly about the sucker rod 2, as shown in FIGS. l, 4 and 5. Theflanges 7 and Smnst be of ample strength to accommodate fasteningdevices of the proper size, but they must be kept to minimum sizebecause they occupy iluid space, and if made longer they are apt tocontact the tubing. The collar` portions are elongated and may be two orthree feet in length, to provide stabilizers and dampeners havingdesired contact with the inner face of the tubing 1.

The fastening devices 9 preferably comprise bolts 10 having threadedShanks 11 of a length to extend through registering openings 12 and 13in the respective anges and to mount acorn nuts 14, so as to cover thethreads of the bolts, since the threads would otherwise be subject t thecorrosive action of the well uids.

Extending radially outwardly from the collar portions 6 are web portions15 and 16, preferably formed integrally with the collar portions 6, tocarry a plate portion 17 that is of arcuate cross section, as best shownin FIGS. 4, and 6. The plate portions 17 have marginal edges 13 and 19that project from outer faces of the web portions sufficient distancesto provide anchoring flanges 20 for shoes 21 and 22, as later described.The upper and lower ends of the arcuate plate portions 17 extend beyondthe ends of the collar portions 6 and taper inwardly toward the suckerrod, as designated by the numerals 23 and 24, FIGS. 2 and 3.

The shoes 21 and 22 are of like construction, and each consists of ashell 25 having an arcuate cross section .corresponding to the arcuatecross section of the plate portions 17, and the shells have longitudinaledges 26 and 27, preferably terminating in registry with the edges ofthe langes 20. The shells also have inwardly tapering ends 2S and 29corresponding to the tapered ends 23 and 24 of the plate portions thatback them.

The edges 26 and 27 of the shells have tongues 30 spaced along thelength thereof. The ends 28 and 29 of the shells also have one or moretongues 31. The tongues a are bent over the ilanges 20 and over the ends23 and 24 of the arcuate plate portions 17 of the supporting members 4and 5.

Each of the shells has a facing 32 of composition material which mayinclude a fabric incorporated in a synthetic rubber that is resistant tothe action of the well fluids. The facings 32 are preferably vulcanizedto the shells and further secured by rivets 33, as best shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

In assembling the parts of the vibration dampener and stabilizer on asucker rod, the shells, with the facings thereon, may be secured to theplate portions 17 of the supporting members 4 and 5 by placing theconcave side of the shells over the convex sides of the plate portions17, so that the shells fit snugly on the plate portions both incircumferential and longitudinal directions. The tongues 30 are thenhammered over the flanges 20, as shown in FIGS. l, 4 and 5, so that theshells 25 of the shoes 21 and 22 are drawn tightly and immovably againstthe outer faces of the plate portions 17 of the supporting members. Theend tongues 31 are likewise bent over the ends 23 and 24, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The supporting members 4 and 5 are then placed onopposite sides of the sucker rod 2 and secured thereto by the fasteningdevices 9, the nuts 14 of which are drawn tight to clamp the collarportions 6 firmly against the sides of the sucker rod, so that theassembled vibration dampener and stabilizer is immovablev thereon evenunder the stresses that are imparted between the sucker rod and tubingwhen the sucker rods are in operation.

A vibration dampener and stabilizer 3 may be applied as needed along thelength of the string of sucker rods 2, for example, one of them may beapplied to each sucker rod, or only at places therealong that showrubbing of the sucker rods on the tubing.

With 4the sucker rods in reciprocation, as when huid is being pumpedthrough the tubing, the facings 32 ride in frictional contact with thetubing so as to dampen vibrations that produce breakage of the rods.

Attention is directed to the fact that the fastening devices 9 arereadily manipulated in the spaces between the side edges of the shoes 21and 22, yet the shoes are sufficiently wide to prevent contact of thefastening devices 9 or the flanges 7 and 8 with the tubing when thesucker rods are in operation. The spaces also, together with the spacesbetween the webs 15 and 16, provide ample passage for flow of the wellfluid to the top of the tubing 1.

When the facings 32 become worn, the shells may be removed by hammeringloose the tongues, so that the old shoes can be removed and replacedwith new shoes.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a vibrationdampener and stabilizer which may be readily applied at desired pointsalong the length of the sucker rods to provide adequate support forstraightening the string of sucker rods within the tubing and reduce thevibration which is so destructive to sucker rods. It is also apparentthat the dampeners and stabilizers constructed as described areconstructed to withstand the forces that are applied thereto.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. Incombination, a tlow tubing, a string of sucker rods reciprocable withinthe flow tubing, and a stabilizer bodily mounted on one of the suckerrods and reciprocable therewith for sliding contact with the flow tubingto stabilize lateral movement of the rod and to dampen vibration, saidstabilizer including elongated collar segments seating upon andsubstantially encircling the sucker rod and having outwardly extendingflanges terminating short of the tubing, fastening devices extendingthrough the flanges of said collar segments for drawing `the segmentstogether in gripping contact with the sucker rod, a plate of arcuatecross section coextensive with each collar segment, said plates havingedges spaced circumferentially from each other and from said flanges toaccommodate insertion of the fastening devices and provide flow passagestherebetween, shoes conforming with and covering outer faces of thearcuate plates, means for securing the shoes to said arcuate plates,

and a composition facing having xed connection with outer faces of theshoes for sliding contact with the flow tubing and to prevent contact ofthe flanges with the flow tubing during reciprocation of the rods. 2. Incombination, a flow tubing, a string of sucker rods reciprocable withinthe flow tubmg, and a stabilizer bodily mounted on one of the suckerrods and reciprocable therewith for sliding contact with the How tubingto stabiiize lateral movement of the rod and to dampen vibration of thestring of sucker rods, said stabilizer including elongated collarsegments seating upon and substantially encircling the sucker rod andhaving outwardly extending llanges terminating short of the tlow tubing,fastening devices extending through the flanges of said collar segmentsfor drawing the segments together in gripping contact with the suckerrod, a plate of arcuate cross section coextensveV with each collarsegment, said plates having edges spaced circumferentially from eachother and from said flanges to accommodate insertion of the fasteningdevices and provide flow passages therebetween, said plates havinginwardly tapering ends projecting beyond upper and lower ends of thecollar segments,

shoes conforming with and covering outer faces of the arcuate plateportions and having similarly tapering ends covering the tapering endsof the plates to fix the shoes from longitudinal movement of the shoeson said plates,

means for securing the shoes from radial movement on said arcuateplates, and

`a composition facing having iixed connection with the plates to provideouter faces for sliding contact with the flow tubing and to preventcontact of the tlanges with the ow tubing during reciprocation of therods.

3. The combination as described in claim 2,

wherein said means for securing the shoes comprises tongues on the shoesand bent lover edges of the plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 940,653 11/09Wilbur 292--253 2,253,675 8/41 Arnold l66-241 2,847,260 8/58 Dillon308-4 3,080,926 3/63 Remp 3084 X FOREIGN PATENTS 35,925 12/ 29 France.

744,068 5/ 43 Germany.

1,607,576 5/ 57 Germany.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

2. IN COMBINATION, A FLOW TUBING, A STRING OF SUCKER RODS RECIPROCABLEWITHIN THE FLOW TUBING, AND A STABILIZER BODILY MOUNTED ON ONE OF THESUCKER RODS AND RECIPROCABLE THERWITH FOR SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE FLOWTUBING TO STABILIZE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE ROD AND TO DAMPEN VIBRATIONOF THE STRING OF SUCKER RODS, SAID STABILIZER INCLUDING ELONGATED COLLARSEGMENTS SEATING UPON AND SUBSTANTIALLY ENCIRCLING THE SUCKER ROD ANDHAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES TERMINATING SHORT OF THE FLOW TUBING,FASTENING DEVICES EXTENDING THROUGH THE FLANGES OF SAID COLLAR SEGMENTSFOR DRAWING THE SEGMENTS TOGETHER IN GRIPPING CONTACT WITH THE SUCKERROD, A PLATE OF ARCUTE CROSS SECTION COEXTENSIVE WITH EACH COLLARSEGMENT, SAID PLATES HAVING EDGES SPACED FLANGES TO ACCOMMODATE EACHOTHER AND FROM SAID FLANGES TO ACCOMODATE INSERTION OF THE FASTENINGDEVICES AND PROVIDE FLOW PASSAGES THEREBETWEEN, SAID PLATES HAVINGINWARDLY TAPERING ENDS PROJECTING BEYOND UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF THECOLLAR SEGMENTS, SHOES CONFORMING WITH AND COVERING OUTER FACES OF THEARCUATE PLATE PORTIONS AND HAVING SIMILARLY TAPERING ENDS COVERING THETEPRING ENDS OF THE PLATES TO FIX THE SHOES FROM LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENTOF THE SHOES ON SAID PLATES, MEANS FOR SECURING THE SHOES FROM RADIALMOVEMENT ON SAID ARCUATE PLATES, AND A COMPOSITION FACING HAVING FIXEDCONNECTION WITH THE PLATES TO PROVIDE OUTER FACES FOR SLIDING CONTACTWITH THE FLOW TUBING AND TO PREVENT CONTACT OF THE FLANGES WITH THE FLOWTUBING DURING RECIPROCATION OF THE RODS.